"The widespread dissemination of the tapes recordingPres. Arroyo's poll fraud campaign in 2004 is partlyreponsible for this. More and more Filipinos since thepublic release of the tapes and their airing throughthe media have become increasingly convinced that theincumbent presidency is illegal and illegitimate,apart from being anti-poor. Clearly, the president's'sorry' was not good enough for most Filipinos. Thedemand for her resignation and removal from officegrows stronger everyday."

Beltran said that the sentiments of most Filipinosagainst the President were also founded on thepresident's failure to provide jobs and improveeconomic conditions. He said that the successiveseries of oil price hikes and the increases inelectricity rates also contribute to public outragedirected against the president.

"Public trust and confidence in the president is at anall-time low, and this is something she will not beable to recover from. The attacks now being levelledagainst members of the opposition especially Houseminority leader Francis Escudero will not divert thepublic's attention from the crimes and controversiesinvolving the president and her family. Rep.Escudero's popularity ratings are without doubt much,much higher than the presidents or any other membersof her cabinet and pro-admnistration lawmakers."

KGMA group's funding questioned

In the meantime, the veteran labor leader turnedlawmaker called attention to the high=profile campaignof pro-GMA groups such as the KGMA organization whohave been putting up expensive tarpoulinematerial-streamers as well as glossy posters all overthe metropolis .

Beltran said that for a supposed grass-rootsorganization, the KGMA group clearly has a lot offunds going around. He also said that most of thesupposed pro-GMA rallyists attending thecongressional hearings have also been monitored to befor hire or 'hakot."

"Where is this group getting all its money? Rallyistsare reportedly being paid P100-P200 a day. The postersand streamers are all made of expensive material, andare all over Manila and Quezon City. Is the groupreceiving funding from the govenrment itself? If so,this is another case of corruption -- misuse of publicfunds."

Beltran said that he will file a resolution callingfor investigations into the KGMA group to discover thesource of its funding.#